Calling the Downtown Eastside Canada’s “poorest postal code” — and, by inference, its poorest neighbourhood — is common among both international and local media. A quick search finds that, over the years, my own paper has referred to the neighbourhood that way dozens of times, too.

But is it true?

Complete, six-digit postal codes usually only refer to a handful of houses. So when people refer to the Downtown Eastside being the nation’s poorest postal code, they can only really mean the first three digits of its postal code — V6A — what the post office refers to as a “Forward Sortation Area”.

There are two main ways to measure which postal code in Canada is poorest: either by which has the lowest median income or by what share of people in that area live below the “poverty line”.

Whichever figure you choose, though, the Downtown Eastside is not the nation’s poorest.

For example here’s a list of the Top 10 postal codes in the country with the lowest median income:

The Downtown Eastside is poor, to be sure — one of the Top 10 poorest postcodes in the entire country. But it’s not as bad off as several First Nations reserves, including the poorest neighbourhood, in Burnt Church First Nation in New Brunwick.

The other measure is what percentage of people live in households below the low-income cutoff, or LICO — a formula Statistics Canada uses to determine what percentage of the population is very poor. The measure is often referred to as “living below the poverty line” — though, it’s important to note, not by StatsCan itself.

Data on what neighbourhoods in Canada have the highest share of people living below the low-income cutoff comes from the most recent Census. By that measure, the Downtown Eastside is one of the Top 5 poorest neighbourhoods in the country — though not as poor as several neighbourhoods in Winnipeg:

I should stress that none of this is meant to minimize the very real, and very severe, problems in the DTES.

But is the Downtown Eastside Canada’s poorest postal code? I think the answer is a pretty clear no.

It’s also interesting to contemplate that, with some higher-end development in V6A — like Woodwards — the median income in the area is likely to go up in the near future, not down.

If you’re curious where any of these postal codes are, just type the FSA code into Google Maps and it will show you the general area covered by that postal code.

As always, a thanks to StatsCan’s local media guy, Peter Liang, for providing the numbers to me so quickly.

And don’t worry, I’ll get back to parenting stuff once this Olympic craziness is over. 🙂

UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: After writing my post, Peter Liang at StatsCan sent me a third set of data today looking at a much narrower question: What’s the median income for FSAs in urban areas that have at least 3,000 taxfilers in them.

Using this narrower definition, the Downtown Eastside actually does come out on top (or bottom):

So while I’d argue it’s still incorrect to refer to the Downtown Eastside as “Canada’s poorest postal code”, you might be able to get away with saying it’s “Canada’s poorest large urban postal code”.

As you can see, there are a number of ways to slice this question. I wish I’d had this last piece of data before I wrote my original post — especially since it’s the only one where V6A comes out on top — but I got it up as quick as I could.

UPDATE: For my reaction to some of the comments and points made below, please check out my follow-up post.

it is true burnt church is one of the poorest reserves , due to a tribe leader who does not care about his own people , only for what he and others with him can put in there pockets . it is not a joke u say these people can help them self do better how when u have a chief who does not help or will not help his own tribe. who pays counsel to loose votes to help him work the books so no one see how they keep the money and not put into the community . indian affairs needs to investigate thie chief and band members who work the books and line there own pockets , they need to see how the chief has houses in other states or citys that he thinks no one knows about . this is not right some one needs to help these people. indian affairs need to get off thier butts and investgate this leader and band councilers please help some signed mrs sweets

Since your article we have had our fourth suicide in five years over the weekend. And a univ of NB paper tried attempting to contact numerous provincial, federal and First Nations sources over the course of a week, the Canadian University Press found that almost no one was willing to address what numbers show to be SEVERE POVERTY in the province’s Reservations. Looks like someone elses problem! This study was done in 2006 and since then, Tobique Reservation has discovered that they are in net debt of over $40 MMMILLION (yes, $40 Mil.) and a forensic investigation was requested years over six years ago. Because of all this it has made Tobique the “POOREST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY”. But how can that be? Tobique has 4 High Profile Liberal politicians, also the aboriginal sect. and the lieutenant-governor of NB originate from Tobique. An unaccounted Casino, a lawyer for a chief since 1998. On the other side is the ugly infrastructure, seriously high unemployment and they just had their 4th Suicide in 5 years over the weekend! MAR 7 2010. Should’nt they be called “Tobique Last Nation”? I guess it depends on who you ask!

The Downtown Eastside is poor, to be sure — one of the Top 10 poorest postcodes in the entire country. But it’s not as bad off as several First Nations reserves, including the poorest neighbourhood, in Burnt Church First Nation in New Brunwick. Where’s New Brunwick?

From an article in a Toronto real esate publication. The Link is below. Richmond, B.C. The hottest neighbourhood in the Greater Vancouver/Lower Mainland is in Richmond (FSA: V6X), bounded north and south by Fraser River and Westminster Highway and east and west by Number 5 Road and Vancouver International Airport, where average prices were $448,469 in April 2009, an increase of 16% from $375,396 since March 2009 and an increase of 3% from $433,605 since April 2008. http://toreal.blogs.com/toronto/2009/06/canadas-hottest-21-neighbourhoods.html

Wow.. i think some of these Statistics are Wrong.. Where i am from the E9E, says 10,900 Maybe for about 20 people the most from what i see. I would like to know if these Numbers were Minipulated in such a way for them to target First Nations. Something is not right about these numbers..

Well done Chad. Your work has brought out the mouth breathers. You could work for CKNW. No doubt the Fraser Institute will cull a few lines out of context to add to its political spin. It does not matter if the details are true, the spin is all that will be needed to deflect responsibility. No doubt also that you will be richly rewarded for providing such easy fodder for the right wing. The truth of the matter is that Vancouver has an open sore caused by neglect and indifference. Tthat there are many other areas in Canada equally destitute is not a surprise, That such extreme poverty envelopes the native population out of proportion to their numbers is not a surprise. It is disgusting that such a comparison would be used to demonstrate that the DTES is not the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. That any such areas sitll exist in Canada is a disgrace. I am without words to describe my disgust that billiions of public dollars are being spent on a party for the rich and wasted to provide entertainment and fuel corporate greed while destitution and misery are ignored.

I grew up on welfare in a poor town on the east coast. I had a step father who was a crack addict. We got our food from the food bank and all our clothing were hand me downs. I was abused and neglected. But I knew I wanted a better life and the only person who would give it to me was me. I understand no one owes me anything. I am ambitious and work hard. I am focused and driven. This past summer I bought a condo in Yaletown. I am debt free and I go on several vacations a year. I am not university educated. I broke the cycle. Anyone can!

Chad felt responsible to get it straight. And he started to dig the numbers. Do I have to feel responsible too when every second month a homeless person breaks into my car to sleep in and make a mess? Should I refrain from making any comments to ICBC? Should I feel responsible when VPD fails to solve the core problem and try to put some make up forcing East Side residents to stay inside during Olympics? Should I feel responsible when RCMP cannot handle the industrial grow up operations in Lower Mainland and the underground Economy? Should I also when politicians artificially keep this real estate prices at the level they are today because of “lack of land” and untaxed illegal economy? And should I also feel responsible when the poor polish guy is loaded with power because YVR fails to withstand its name of International Airport and provide some basic guidance in foreign languages? Maybe I should. And maybe it will be more people feeling the same way if Vancouver Sun and mass media in general would do their job. They should put pressure on authorities, create a public opinion, provoke debates and stick to the problem till it’s solved. But they are exactly like folks abroad: superficial. And that is why I cancelled my subscription! They are more concerned about nuances than the real problems of our community! Keep it this way and Canada will continue to isolate itself in the detriment of all Canadians!

Canada’s poorest postal code – isn’t it already obvious? Keep your eyes open for the British addicts who have joined the begging forces, delivered to us courtesy of British Airways. No rent, free drugs, passive locals combined with a good climate make this a resort town for begging.

Well that just says it all regarding First Nations’ place in society. Which is what this article is really about.. And the downtown eastside in many ways is a more brutal, urban extension of the reserve…I have heard Winnipeg is the same situation only smaller than vancouver. I wonder if the First Nations involved with the olympic games are that poor. My guess is no.

To George L: My recollection is that data on which neighbourhood had the most kids included the DTES within a larger area, so exactly how many kids live in the DTES can’t be discerned from that data. – Chad

Relative to housing prices/cost of living etc, it would still be Canada’s poorest postal code. However, if taken on straight income, then clearly not. What will journalists do without that handy catch phrase: Canada’s poorest postal code?!

Another question: how many DTES residents (and how many homeless people in Vancouver) come from outside BC? The census might answer the first question. To me this is the hot political issue – Vancouver paying for services for homeless and transient people who have migrated from elsewhere in Canada. It’s a Federal issue, and should be addressed with Federal money. I should not underwrite the economic failure of other provinces nor the risk individuals take in migrating here.

if it wasn’t for the communist infiltration within City Hall and all those hypocritical Do Gooders while that Philip Owen who prefers to live anywhere but in Zombietown. This area would have been cleaned up long time ago. Instead they Province and City are tying up one building after the other for the next 60 years before the gentrification can set in. No wonder it’s a moloch, it’s like an infected wound , oozing fluids. If the free market forces would ruled that scumballs would have been pushed into the Burrard Inlet long time ago.

It’s nice to see some members of the media not bowing to the poverty pimps and actually reporting the truth for once. In response to some of these peoples comments about New Brunswick who insist it’s a completely different story, allow me to clarify a few things. Real estate is cheaper in New Brunswick but, contrary to what one uninformed person said you cannot buy waterfront property for 10,000 there. Impossible. Maybe like an 8 square foot tent lot. Rent in the Moncton area tends to run around 400-500 a month for what you would pay 1000-1250 for in parts of Vancouver. For the Vancouver price in Moncton, you could rent a 3 bedroom family home in a nice neighborhood. However, in Vancouver I don’t require a car. Auto insurance and gas are expensive in New Brunswick and the transit systems are terrible or nonexistant. If you don’t own a car in a Maritime city, you’re hoooped. I don’t need one in Vancouver. And also, unlike the homeless people that threaten random citizens, break into cars and take dumps in the street I actually came to Vancouver and paid my own way. Why should I not hold other people to the standards that I hold myself to? If they can’t cut it here, they should leave and go somewhere cheaper. I don’t recommend Burnt Church though. Yikes.

A lot of these homeless people might have had a chance at life at one point. Once they get hooked on the drug’s however the last thing they want to do is actually work for a living and the fact that the tax paying public has to foot the bill for their welfare mean’s nothing to them. Otherwise perfectly healthy young people that could do any number of job’s being too lazy to bother trying to better their situation’s, because their too blitzed to care, should hardly be everyone else’s problem.

Hey JWB you ‘tard. It’s not about wanting to live in the DTES you moron. It’s about an area that is convenient for bigots like you. Get the poor and the undesirables into their own little ghetto. I’m sure a bigot like you would be screaming MINBY if “those people” were to set their “homeless residency” in you neighborhood. Do you want the homeless to live in your more affordable neighborhood? I don’t think so.

There are homeless throughout the world in every large city. So far I have seen respectful comments towards the downtown Eastside I am from Calgary and go there every time I am in Vancouver. Might sound strange but it makes me realize how lucky I am.

to be honest i could care less about the homeless people. They are complaiing about the city spending millions on the olympics??? most of these homeless people put themselves in the position they are in. They have no desire to make something out of their lives other then to get drugs. I don’t my tax dollars wasted on people that don’t want to help themselves….they just want handouts.

Hey Paul! That’s right its an expensive city. I make good money and can’t afford to live downtown. So why the world should I feel sorry for people who don’t make good money who insist on living downtown. Its ridiculous! Maybe they can better their lives by getting away from drugs and live in New Brunswick where as you put it they can actually live. Wow what a concept. Don’t expect this to happen though, taxpayers in BC are too gullible and will keep on signing the cheques with our tax dollars. Besides the weather nice here!

Well done sir. It is refreshing to hear someone in the media introducing a bit of honesty and accuracy rather than going for the quick sound bite. I guess reporting on Canada’s eighth lowest postal code doesn’t sound as good but it’s nice to get real information rather than headlines. Thank you.

You’re basing your conclusion on household incomes but seem to have forgotten that the homeless are an INVISIBLE statistic that do not calculate nicely into your tidy clean figures. You’re talking numbers on a piece of paper.

Hey Vancouver Sun: Vancouver = One the highest “cost of living” cities in the world ! You can’t compare Vancouver’s median income earners to that of people in New Brunswick or Winnepeg, that’s like comparing apples to oranges. You can actually live off $9000/ year in New Brunswick! There is no hope in hell you could ever live off that sort of income in Vancouver!

wow, what a way to make us feel better about ourselves for not caring! The DTES isn’t the poorest in Canada…. just really frickin poor! Now we can all let out a collective sigh of relief. What the paper failed to mention is that you can still purchase waterfront property in New Brunswick for $10,000 ! So really, wouldn’t that be the equivalent of a downtown eastsider making like a million dollars a year? Stupid paper, you gotta factor in the cost of living ya dummies!

Chad, I think you need to check your sources again. Two points: 1. neither of your sources seems to take into account the number of homeless people (survey two only mentions “households”) 2. the survey of median income does not take into account cost of living. Vancouver has a very high cost of living.